Indeed, the Daily Mirror reported that Mourinho had expressed concerns over player safety and called for a delay to allow more time to get players back to full fitness.

But the 57-year-old released a public statement on Thursday clarifying that he wants the English top-flight league to follow in the footsteps of the Bundesliga and find a way to play out the rest of the season, if it safe to do so.

"I don’t think my position in the meeting has been reflected fairly at all today in media reports. I have not asked for any delay," the Portuguese coach's statement read.

"I want to train, and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe to do so, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.

"I am extremely proud of the way my players have maintained their fitness – they have shown great professionalism, passion and dedication.

"We have all been working extremely hard through remote squad training sessions and isolated running now the pitches are available to use again at the training centre.

"Every player has been extremely committed in terms of their individual work and now we wait for clearance to commence working in small groups again, which I will fully support."